Speaking to two Spanish journalist days before being hauled back to prison for breaching the terms of his parole, French relived the confrontation with Paul Smith at luxury serviced offices where their debt collection business was based.

In court, French’s lawyer claimed he pulled the weapon on Mr Smith because he was in fear for his life.

French told the journalists: “Because of the pressure of everything I became undone and became crazy, so I went OG. Original gangster.

“I bought a machete because I was going to behead this man. I had enough, I was going to murder him and going to prison happy. Cut his head off, take it to the police and say ‘lock me up’. My mind wasn’t thinking straight.”